Shoe-fastening



(No Model.)

I. JENNER. SHOE FASTENING. No. 446,779. Patented Feb. 17,1891[ m: Nmmls r z cns co mof-Lnnm nnnnnnnnnnnnn c4 U ITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

FREDERICK JENNER, OF YEOVIL, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO EDVARD JOHN LUCAS AND HARRY JENNER, OF JOHNSTOXVN, NElV YORK.

SHOE-FASTENING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 446,779, dated February 17, 1891.

Application filed August '7, 1890. Serial No. 361,267. (No model.) Patented in England June 30, 1888, No. 9,546.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, FREDERICK J ENNER, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, and a resident of Yeovil, in the county of Somerset,

England, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Fastenings for Boots and Shoes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others IO skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, which said improvements have been patented by me'inGreat Britain, No. 9,546, dated June 30, 1888.

n n I I My invention relates to improvements in i5 fastenings for the meeting flaps of gaiters, balinorals, and other descriptions of shoes, whereby the ordinary lacing-cords and eyelets or studs and button-holes and buttons may be dispensed with.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and economical fastening device by which the shoe may be fastened with rapidity and security, and which shall possess other advantages to be hereinafter enumerated.

The means ordinarily employed to secure or fasten open-front shoes is either buttons and button-holes on the meeting flaps thereof or lacing-cords and eyelets or studs. The former mode or method is objectionable, not

only on account of the cost of manufacture,

but by reason of the stretching of the material of which the shoe is composed the buttons have to be frequently removed and readjusted in order to insure a perfect and comfortable fit of the shoe. Besides great difficulty is experienced and much time is lost in buttoning the shoes, especially when they are new. When lacing-cords and eyelets or studs are employed, it is almost impossible to make 0 the edges of the flaps meet so as to protect the instep. They are, besides, uncomfortable to the wearer, unsightly in appearance, costly to manufacture, and unreliable and inefficient in use.

By my invention the above objections are obviated and a fastening device provided which can be furnished at a very small cost, which can be readily applied to the shoe, which will not be uncomfortable in use, and

by which the flaps can be secured over the instep in a perfect manner and with great rapidity.

The invention consists in the combination, with a shoe or other similar article, of a strap or cord secured to one of the flaps thereof, a lacing-stud secured to the other flap, and a retaining device secured to the same flap to which the strap or cord is at tached, said strap or cord being adapted to pass around the ankle, around'or about the stud, and. be secured by the fastening or re tainin g device, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanyingdrawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoe to which my improvement is applied. Fig. 2 represents perspective views, respectively, of the lacing-stud and fastening or retaining device.

In the said drawings, the reference-numerals 1 and 2 designate the flaps of an ordinary 7o open-front gaiter, said fiap l overlapping flap 1, preferably, although this is not necessary.

The numeral 3 designates a lacing or fastening strap, which may be made of leather or of textile or other material, as may be found most desirable or convenient. I prefer to construct it of leather, with one end broadened or flattened, by which it is secured by sewing or otherwise to flap 1. The free portion of the strap is preferably rounded, as shown.

4 designates a stud secured to flap 2, and is preferably what is known as a Bray lacing-stud. (Seen in Fig. 2.) i

The numeral 5 designates a retaining de- 85. vice or spring-clamp secured to flap 1. This may be of any suitable construction, which will retain the cord or strap 3 when placed therein and prevent it from slipping. On the back of the shoe is a loop 6, through which 0 the strap may pass and which serves to retain it in position.

The operation of this device will be readily understood. lVhen this shoe is placed on the foot, the flaps 1 and 2 are lapped over the instep and the strap or cord passed around the ankle through the loop 6 and brought around to the front. It is then passed around or about the stud 4 and carried backward to flap 1, where it is engaged by the spring-clamp or retniningdevicc 5. This clump securely holds the strap and prevents it from slipping, and the flaps are thus fastened in a reliable and. ellicient manner and the shoe properly sooured to the foot. By my invention the flaps can be rapidly fastened and unfastened, and the shoe will he very comfortable to the wearer.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is The combination, with ashoe, of a strap or cord secured to one of the flaps thereof, a 

